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The Schoeneberger Saengerknaben Choir from its foundation has sought to identify itself with a distinctive uniform. In the early years, money did not exist to purchase smart suits for the boys, but they wore their trademark short pants and white kneesocks from the very beginning. Soon black shortpants suits were purchased and worn with white kneesocks. The boys always wear their jackets with open collars rather than with ties. The black jackets have
a crest of the rampant bear, symbol of the city of Berlin. This is the same symbol appearing on the Berlin flag. The choir includes boys of up to about 14 years of age. Unlike many German choirs which have sought to update their uniform with what they seen as moern clothing trends, the Schoeneberger Saengerknaben has sought to maintain the same uniform they adopted in the early days of the choir. When traveling to the United States they appear to wear long pants. resumably the boys felt more comfortable in long pants as they were sightseeing and traveling about America because American boys did not commonly wear short pants suits. The boys for formal occasions, however, such as marching in the New York City Steuben Day Parade, wear their trade mark black shortpants and white kneesocks.
The choir from its foundation has sought to identify itself with a distinctive uniform. HBC does not have any details on the thought that went into the new choir's uniform. At the time it was very common for boys of all ages to wear short pants. Also Germans tende to view white kneesocks as a kind of dressy look for boys. Surely these were factors that were taken into account when deciding on the uniform.
In the early years, money did not exist to purchase smart suits for the boys, but they wore their trademark short pants and white kneesocks from the very beginning. The lack of a uniform in the early years was purely a function of the lack of money. Almost from the beginning their was a desire to smartly outfit the boys in a destinctive uniform.
Soon black short pants suits were purchased and worn with white knee socks. One wonders if there was not a large stock of black short pants left in Germany in the 1940s from the Hitler Youth days. The black jackets have a crest of the rampant/standing bear, symbol of the city of Berlin. This is the same symbol appearing on the Berlin flag.
Since the early years when the uniform was first adopted there appears to have been little or no change in the uniform. The only basic uniform that HBC has noted is that the length of the short pants has varied. The boys in recent years have begun wearing longer shorts. In addition, they now have a travel uniform with long pants, but still perform in the short pants uniform that they have perfornmed in during so many years.
The boys always wear their jackets with open collars rather than with ties. This was the case in the early years of the choir and continue to be the case with the modern choir.
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HBC has few details on the Schoeneberger Saengerknaben uniform. We have not found in any written sescriptions. We have, however, been able to piece together some information based on available images. The boys do not appear to have any uniform caps. They wear a short black jacket with the choir crest with the rampant/standing bear -- the iconic symbol of Berlin. Available images are not very clear but the jackets do not appear to have any lapels--rather like an Eton jacket. We have since found clearer imges. The jacket is rather like a vest, only with long sleeves. The boys wear standard long sleeve white shirts with open collars. We also notice V-collar black sweters with the with the rampant bear crest. sweaters. They never wear ties or other kind of neckwear. They wear black short pants matching the jackets. The length of the shorts seem to have varied over time in line with the fashion conventions of the day. The boys wear white knee socks--always smartly pulled up. The white knee socks were fairlky common with Europea choirs, especilly French and Germn choirs. Finlly the outfit is completed with black leather shoes. These garments may have changed, but we do not yet have the archive to follow the chronological changes. We think that the sweaters may have replaced the short jackets.
The choir includes boys of up to about 14 years of age. All the boys in the choir wear the exact same uniform. There is no special uniform for either the older or younger boys.
Unlike many German choirs which have sought to update their uniform with what they seen as modern clothing trends, the Schoeneberger Saengerknaben has sought to maintain the same uniform they adopted in the early days of the choir.
When traveling to the United States they appear to wear long pants. resumably the boys felt more comfortable in long pants as they were sightseeing and traveling about America because American boys did not commonly wear short pants suits. The boys for formal occasions, however, such as marching in the New York City Steuben Day Parade, wear their trade mark black shortpants and white kneesocks.
The Schoeneberger Saengerknaben uniform does not change seasonally. The boys wear the same uniform whether it is hot or cold. One concession to hot weather is that the boys sometimes take off their jackets.
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